Which pest management method involves releasing more natural enemies into the field to boost pest suppression?

• A. Augmentation
• B. Antibiosis
• C. Host resistance
• D. Exclusion

Answer: (A)

Releasing more natural enemies into the field to boost pest suppression is augmentation. This biological control approach adds beneficial organisms, such as parasitoids or predators, to raise their numbers and increase pest control. It can be done in two ways: inoculative releases, where small numbers are released to establish a population that will persist, and inundative releases, where large numbers are released for immediate suppression. This differs from antibiosis (pest suppression via plant-produced toxins or effects), host resistance (plants bred to resist pests), and exclusion (using barriers to keep pests out).